UNDERDOG Mohamed Zuraidi Abu Bakar of Sarawak kept his calm despite controversy to take gold as Kedah fans protested decisions violently at the Malaysia Games silat competition at the Seremban Municipal Hall yesterday.
After beating Kedah exponent Mohamed Khoharullah Abdul Majid in a controversial semi-final that saw fans hurl chairs onto the court and a photographer assaulted, Zuraidi stayed focused because he wanted to take the gold home for Sarawak.
In the final, although still nursing an ankle injury sustained in training, Zuraidi played through the pain barrier to beat Perak's Megat Iskandar Abdullah 4-1 in the final.
The gutsy 19-year old was disappointed that things got out of hand in the semi-final but had to keep focus because he had a point to prove.
"The Kedah team and officials had nothing to do with the fracas, it was their fans, but I blocked it out of my mind because I wanted to take the gold home for Sarawak." "You can be a natural, but if you do not listen to your coaches, then you will amount to nothing.
Sarawak, who had Mohamed Zairi Johari in the men's class F final, can count themselves unlucky not to take gold as well after he injured his knee in the match against Penang's Hilmi Jafni Zakaria and could not continue.
In other finals yesterday, Kelantan's Wan Nurul Hidayu beat Kuala Lumpur's Siti Jasili 4-0 in the women's class C while Penang's Syahizan Marzuki beat Labuan's Irwan Rapai to take the men's class B gold.
Sourced from http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-21573313_ITM
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